Digging



April 17, 1928.

J. ZICA DIGGING, LIPTING, AND CCNVEYING APPARATUS Filed Jan,15. 1925 5 Sheets-awe: 1

A Q e A ril 17, 1928.

1,666,869 J. ZiCA AND CONVEYING APPARATUS 5 Sheets-Shea; 2

DIGGING, LIFTING,

FiledgjJan. 1925 III I 3 1M, 7x 1 1 0/ 1 I a 2 (4171- 1 u'zcfpr.

EVtZar-me April 17, 1928. 1,666,869

J. zlcA DIGYGING, LIFTING, AND CONVEYING APPARATUS Filed Jan.l5. 1925 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 l n .4 I 1' {/IQV' J /46 -41 April 17, 1926. 1,666,869

J. ZICA DIGGING, LIFTIP JG, AND CONVEYING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 15. 1925 s Sheets-She': 4

April", 1928.

J. ZIA

DIGGING, LIFTING, AND CONVEYING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 15. 1925 5 Sheets-She I Ill Jo kn Z L ca I 7304 2650)- (35 a: L t

.Wlfarney Iltl Patented Apr. 17, 1928.

UNITED STATES ?AT i JOHN ZICA, OF LACKAWANNA. NE'W YORK, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO JOSEPH PUDALOFF, OF NIAGARA FALLS, NEW YORK.

DIGGING, LIF'IING, AND CONVEYING APPARATUS.

Application filed January 15, 1925.

My invention relates to improvements in digging, lifting and conveying apparatus and more particularly to that type. used for digging cellars, trenches and other excavations and conveying the material dug to a distant point, also for lifting heavy ob ects.

My invention has for its object the provision of an apparatus in which a digging and lifting implement is supported from overhead in a novel manner, and which has digging elements movable from substantially horizontal to vertical position, which elements, during the action of digging, move from vertical position away from each other and assun 2 a horizontal position, carrying with them dirt or other substances dug up, to he elevated and delivered to a distant point.

Another object of my invention is to provide a digging implement of considerable weight. and which is suspended from a point overhead so that when lowered it will dig into the ground and which also has means for causing the digging elements thereof to move outwardly and upwardly away from each other, and during such action take up the earth or other substances dug thereby and lift the same into the digging implement to he elevated and carried to a distant point.

A further object of my invention is to provide a digging implement having retainer sides and a table between said sides formed of digging elements adapted to be provided with digging prongs and be swung into vertical or substantially vertical position, and which digging implement has considerable weight so that when lowered, the digging prongs thereof will be driven into the earth; and to provide in conjunction therewith. operating mechanism comprising a cable or cables, cable sheaves, and elements carrying said sheaves and connected with said digging elements to elevate the sameand carry up wardly with them a quantity of earth or other material, which material will be sup ported by said digging elements and l) a. con fined between said retainer sides to lie dclivcred to a distant point.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a digging implement. having diggin element's adapted to engage the earth at spaced points. and to take up the earth by movement of said digging elements away from each other.

A still further object or" my invention is to Serial No. 2,568.

provide an implement of the kind described in which interchangeable digging elements may be used. or digging elements having interchangeable parts, certain forms of which are'adapted for use in digging hard earth, clay. or the like, or for breaking and taking up concrete floors or masonry construction, other forms for digging sand or other loose material. and still others capable of being forced into hay and operating as a substitute to. a hay t'ork.

A still further object is to provide a digging impleu'ient having means the eon for moving heavy objects, especially long objects. such as rails, lengths of water pipe, building material. and the like.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention consists in the novel features of (,(lllStl'llCtlOll and in the arrangement and ct-m'ihination of parts to be hereinafter described and more particularly pointed out in the suhjoined claims.

In the drawings 2- Fig. 1 is a side elevation of my improved digging implement and my novel means for use in connection therewith for raising and lowering said implement and for moving the same from one, point to another.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged longitudinal section through the digging implement.

Fig. 3 is a horizontal section taken on line 3-3, Fig. 2.

' Fig. 4 is a horizontal section taken on line 4 4, Fig. 2.

Il ig. 5 is a longitudinal section through the digging implement, showing the digging elements lowered to assume the position in which they are driven into the ground under weight of the apparatus.

Fig. (3 is a horizontal section takenon line 6-ti, Fig. 2.

7 is an end view of the digging implement.

Pg. 8 is a rtieal section taken on line 8-8, Fig. l

Fig. 9 is a side View of a portion of the implement showing the enter plate or wall of the retainer side removed. I

Fig. 10 is an enlarged vertical section taken on line 10-40. Fig. 9.

Fig. 11 is a. deached perspective view of one of the digging prongs.

Fig. 12 is a side elevation of a portion of the implement showing a portion of the outer side wall of the digging element implementis supported and moved from one point to another.

Fig. 17 is a detached perspective view showing a further modification of the outer portion of one of the digging elements.

Fig. 18 is a vertical section taken on line 1818, Fig. 16, looking in the direction of the arrow crossing said line.

Fig. 19 is a detached perspective view of one of the clevises used on the connector levers of the digging implement.

In the embodiment of my invention illustrated, I have shown the digging implement suspended from an overhead support comprising two uprights 20 spaced any suitable distance apart andhaving clamps 21 secured thereto to which opposite ends of a supporting cable 22 are secured, said cable be ing stretched in any suitable manner between the clamps on the 51 ports so as to form a track for a pulley lock 23. This pulley block comprises a housing having two spaced side members 24 connected at the top by a horizontal wall 25 on the upper side of which eyes 26 are formed. I

Arranged between the side members of the pulley block are two spaced guide pulleys 27 which are rotatable on pins 28 fastened in opposite side members, and above said guide pulleys is a set of three cable sheaves 0r pulleys 29, two of which are piv oted in the same horizontal plane and the ,third in a lower plane, the three being spaced apart and rotatable on pins 30, also fastened in opposite side members of the pulley block.

Fastened to one of the eyes 26 is a pullback cable 31 which extends in one direction, and fastened to the other eye 26 is a draw cable 32 which extends in an opposite direction, the draw cable being passed around a sheave or pulley 33 fastened to one of the uprights 20 and thence directed back into the pulley block 23 where it passes over the two of the three cable'sheaves or puileys 29 arranged in the same plane and underneath the third cable sheave or pulley 29. The pull-back and draw cables may he wound around a power-operated drum for operating the same, or these cables may be operated in any other suitable manner, and when pulling upon the cable 31 the pulley block will be moved in the direction of the messes arrow 34, Fig. 1, while, when pulling upon the cable 32, the pulley block will be moved in the direction of the arrow 35, Fig. 1.

The housing of the pulley block is widened at itslower end by oflsetting the lower portions of the side members thereof, as shown at 36, Fig. 18, thus the lower portions of the side walls are spaced apart a greater distance than the upper portions thereof, and between the lower portions two cable pulleys 37, 38, are rotatably mounted on a pin 39 fastened to the opposite side walls. These cable pulleys 37, 38 may be of diffcrent diameters, as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 1, or they may be of like diameter, as shown in Fig. 18. Passing over one of said cable pulleys 37 or 38 is a hoisting and lowering cable 40, and passing over the. other of said cable pulleys is an operating cable 41.

To the lower end of the raising and lowering cable 40 is fastened the digging implement designated by. the numeral 42. This digging implement has an inverted U- shaped frame 43 from which the remaining portions of the implement receive support, directly or indirectly, and extending across the top of said frame is a pulley housing 44 which is held to said U-shaped frame by the pin 45 of a swivel 46, said pin extending through the pulley housing from the top and through a portion of the U-shaped frame, which is provided with an opening 47 in which the lower end of said pin terminates, a nut. 48 being threaded onto said pin within said opening, as clearly shown in Figs. 2, 5, and 8, the nut being suiiicicntly loose to permit the pin to rotate. The forked upper end 49 of the swivel has the lower end of the. raising and lowering cable 40 secured thereto.

Fastened to the lower ends of the two depending arms 50 of said inverted U-shaped frame 43 is the bucket of the apparatus, which com rises side walls 51 and a bottom formed 0 movable digging elements 52. The upper portions of these side walls lie inside of the depending arms 50 of the in verted U-shaped frame and the digging elements 52 are movable between the lower portions of said side walls.

53 designates a spacing member, which connects the lower portions of said side walls and is positioned between the inner' ends of said digging elements, said spacing member being in the form'ofa flat bar having upwardly-directed lugs 54 at opposite ends which lie in contact with the inner surfaces of said side walls. The lowef ends of the depending arms 50 of said inverted lie walls 51 and the cross members of which extend underneath the digging elements 52 near their inner ends and support the same when in horizontal position. The arms 57 are rounded at their upper ends to conform to and fit into the concaved portions 55 at the lower extremities of the inverted U- shaped frame. Each of said side arms 57 has an upstanding lug 58, the lugs of theside arms at the same side of the bucketbearing against opposite edges of the interposed depending arm of said-inverted U-' shaped frame, as clearly shown in Fig. 9.

Applied to the outer surfaces of the lower portions of the depending arms 50 of said inverted U-shaped frame and to the outer surfacesof the side arms 57 of the substantially U-shaped members 56. are supplemental side walls 59 which are held spaced from the side walls 51 by said depending arms 50 and said side arms 57. The side walls 51 and 59 are fastened to the lower extremities of said depending arms 50 by a tie bolt 60, which also passes through depending lugs 61 formed on a combined spacing and pulley block 62 positioned between the depending arms 50 of said inverted U- shaped frame and having said depending lugs 61 fastened against the'inner sides of the side walls 51 at their upper ends by rivets 63 arranged at opposite sides of the tie bolt 60.

Between the side walls 51 and the supplemental side walls 5.) near their lower ends, are spacing sleeves ti t. and a tie bolt 65" is passed through said side walls 51, the supplemental side walls 59. the spacing sleeves (i4, and the upwaidly-directed lugs 54 of the spacing member 52. and pulley block (32 has its depending lugs til engaging the inner sides of the side walls 51 at their upper :ends and the spacing member 5 engages the inner sides of said side walls. at their l'ower ends, both serving to hold said Side walls in proper spaced rclatioli while the tie bolts (it) and (i5 tie the sides of the bucket together. The side walls 51 and the supplemental side walls 59 may be said to serve. as the opposite sides of the bucket, and these sides are further tied together by the cross nwmbers of, the substantially U-shaped members 56. which U-shaped members may be said to properly truss the parts and prevent buckling under the severe strain to which the bucket is subjected.

Each of the digging element-1 52 comprises two sections (16. 67 which. when in one position are alincd and slightly spaced apart at their inner ends. These digging elements provide a bottom and are adapted to carry dirt or other material dug during ex- .qavating. The slight space between the inner ends of said digging elements is ocupied by the tie bolt (35. which may also be st d o serve as a part of the bottom, since The combined spacing it fills the space between said digging elelncnts and prevents dirt or other material carried thereby from dropping through said space.

The Hcllolls tit at the inner ends of said digging elements may be referred to as permancnt Htfllmh. while the rcmaining sections (37 may be considered replaceable sections. The inner or permanent sections (it; are pivotally mounted in the lower ends of the side arms 57 of the substantially U- shaped members 56, as at 58, which side members may also be referred to as struts, and the outer or replaceable sectirins (37 are pivotally secured to the outer ends otsaid inner or permanent sections. as at (it). The purpose of so mounting and connecting the sections is to allow each outer or replaceable section to swing with the inner or permanent section of each digging element, and also allow the outer, section independent swinging movement, as will be described hereinafter.

It is to be noted that the inner sections of the digging elements, in addition to receiving support from the pivots by means of which they are mounted, also rest ,upon the cross members of the substantially U-shapcd members 56, and the connection of the outer sections of the digging elements to the inner sections thereof is what may be tcrnu-d an interlocking pivoted connection similar to a hinge, each section having spaced dcprcssions and projections, the projections of one being, adapted to enter the depressions of the other and the pivot (3!) connecting the sections of each member being passed through the projections thereof.

Each of the inner sections has at. oppw site edges ul'istanding wings 7t), which are adapted to enter the spaces between the side walls 5t and 5!), as clearly shown in Fig. I), and these wings may b said to form part of the sides of the bucltet. The outer sections of the digging elements vary according to the material which they are intended to dig into. For hard pan. rocky material, ccmcnt surfaces or the like. I preterably employ the construction shown in Figs. 1 to 3 and 9 to 11. and in this construction each of the outer se tions is provided with a transverse series of parallel dovetailed grooves 71 on its upper sides in which digging prongs 72 are sccurcd. said prongs having inwardly dovetailed cxtcnsions 73 fitling into said dovetailed grooves, and inwardly-o]iening slots 71 into which the outer end portion of the outer section tits. the bight's 75 of the -lots of aid prongs a sisting in receiving the thrust during operation of the apparatus. The prongs are held in the dovetailed grooves 71 by means of screw bolts 76. each prong having a screw hole formed therein and the body portion of the outer section having a screw hole near the inner end of each dovetailed groove formed therein. the screw bolts it) being passed through said holes and having nuts applied thereto. a best shown in Fig. 2. Screw bolts are preferably employed. since they permit. the read removal of the prongs when worn or when desired to replace them with an other type of prongs.

Above the side walls Slot the bucketand between the depending arms 50 of the invert ed U-shaped frame and the combined spacing: and pulley block as, supporting plates 77 are arranged. These supporting plates extend outwardly beyond opposite edges of said depending arms and near each end of each plate is a segmental slot TR. These slots have their ttllltls eo-axial with a shaft 79 ext nding through the depending arms 50 of the inverted U-shaped frame. the supporting plates 77 and the combined spacing and pulley block 62. and on this shaft within -the opening 80 in said combined spacing and pulley block. is a cable sheave Sl which has its axis in a plane taken transversely through the center of the apparatus.

The segmental slots 78 are arranged in pairs at opposite. sides of a plane extending transversely through the center of the bucket and the inverted U-shaped frame supporting the same. Spanning the space be tween the supporting plates 77 and extending through the aeumental slots thereof. are pivot pins 82. whieh have secured th reto in any suitable manner. operating levers 8 3. the pivot pins 80 being passed through the inner ends: of said levers. Said operating levers normally extend upwardly and out wardly in opposite directions. These operating levers are also arranged in pairs as clearly shown in Fig. 7, and on the pivot pins 82. cable sheaves are rotatably mounted. Passing through each pair of said operating levers a distance outwardly from the pivot pin 82 at the inner ends thereof, s a pin 84 on which a cable sheave is arranged, said pins 84 and the pivot pins 82 having square ends which prevent rotation of said pins. The square ends of the pivot pins extend outwardly through the segmental slots 78, and the square ends of the pins 84 also extend outwardly from opposite sides of the operating levers a similar distance.

Connector bars 86 which have square openings therein fit onto the square ends of said pins 82 and 84, and cotter pins 87 are passed-through said square ends to hold said connector bars in place. In this manner the pivot pins 82 and the pins 84 are permanentlv retained and a fixed connection provided between said pins. Passed through each pair of said operating levers near their outer ends are supporting pins 88, each pin having a roller 89 mounted thereon between each pair of levers, the supporting pins 88 extending outr-ardlv beyond the out r tacos of said levers and earn pin supports at; in verted U--shaped carrier 9th Each carrier eoinprisw ii-Ci) side member? 91 and a cross member 5r; "(Hllltjtiillil the tlgiper or outer ends oi a d aide members. ear the inner or oner end-i ol he side members of each carrier. :1 prim pin .93 ix arranged, the ends of said pins being fastened in said side members 9t and having; a litting and lowering lever SH pivotally secured thereto. Each lift-in and lowering lever is disposed midway between the side members of one of said carriers and iltln'ti'tl the ide members of each carrier and the lifting and lowering ever secured thereto. are rt ilet-= .l-a said rollers having said pivot pins us' their centers. The outer edgesof lln' operating levers 83 are cut or otherwise i u 'illmu l ilzlu cam formation, as at 9 3, and these shaped edges, as they a r he contact with the rollers The pivot, pins 9;! pm. ing and lowering: leress near I. inner ends. and each ol .sttiii z-n T net-ted thereto a elevis' 91' t to t 103 having; opposite ends serured to upper ends: of links; 9% pivotall r eonuw to arms 99 extending npwarrtl from eatou er Section of the digging: elements of said rods. haviz'ig spacing Fleeverl nit poi tinned thereon, the inn r ends; t which bear against opposite sides oi one of the lmise' 97 and the outer ends of which ear agaitet thr w" menu and sa d littin and ioweriug losers. 'lhrs lilting and l-ruering levi r ext nd up wardiy and normally lie against the outer edges of the cross members 9: of the U- shapcd carrier: and are retaint'ul in such position by means nt' retainer hooks it or otherwise, this being the porition ol' the lovers 94 when using the apparatus as a diggin; implement.

The opening 8*.) in the combined epaeing and pulley block extends from a point near the lower end thereof to the upper end thereof, and in the upper end of this opening a separator 101 is arranged. This separator divides the spa e between the depending arms of the inverted U-shupcd frame 42, and between said, separator and said depending arms cable sheaves 102 are located. said sheaves being! rotatable on a pin extending: through said inverted U-shaped frame and separator.

()n the pine 5;! having their ends extending through the segmental slots TC and he tween the operating levers 83, are cable sheaves 105, said sheaves being rotatable on 'said pins, due to the fact that said pins hate op osite ends made square, as clearly llt \'\'ll in i ig. 4.

downwardly.

The operating cable 41 passes over the cable pulley I57 and is provided with a loop 106. This loop, at a central point, passes underneath the cable sheave 81, and from this point it may be said to extend in two stretches directed outwardly over the cable sheaves 105 thence around the cable sheaves 85, and thence inwardly, one strand passing around one of the cable sheaves 102 in the inverted U-shaped frame and the other around the other cable sheave 102 in said frame, thence upwardly in contact and around the sides of cable sheaves or pulleys 107 in the pulley housing H aml tinally upwardly and inwardly to a common point, from which point the operating cable continues in a single stretch to the point at which its operation is controlled.

When operating the apparatus, for digging hard. material for example, the diggging elements having prongs, such as 72. are used. After deciding the point at which digging is to take place, the pull back cable 31, or the draw cable 32, are operated with a view of moving the pulley block 23 along the supporting cable 22 to position the digging apparatus directly over the point at which digging is to take place. \Vith the apparatus properly positioned, the operating cable 41 is paid out sulliciently to relieve the inward pull on the operating levers 83, and when strain on the operating cable is relieved, the weight of these levers with the cable sheaves 85 will cause said levers to move outwardly and downwardly, the cam edges ill of said levers acting against the rollers 95 and causing the carriers 90, the lifting {ind lowering levers 9t mounted thereon and the connection between said levers and the digging elements to move This causes the digging elements to move from the position shown in Fig. :2 to the position shown in full lines in Fig. 5. During this action the pivot pins will have moved upwardly in the ;1e.g mental slots 78. as shown in said last-mentioned figure. \Vith the parts in this position, the prongs are directed downwardly in substantially vertical planes, this being the position of the outer sections of the digging elements from end to end thereof, while the inner sections assume almost vertical positions.

As the apparatus is quite heavy, the quick lowering of the same by paying out the raising and lowering cable 40 will cause the I prongs to penetrate deeply into the material to be dog. In fact, depending on the nature of the material, or more definitely its hardness, the apparatus may be raised and lowered a number of times under quick movements so that assurance will be had of the hardest material being penetrated or entercl to a sufiicient extent to assure a (paintity of material being dug up and lifted during the further operation of the apparatus. \Vith the digging elements properly penetrated in the material to be dug, the operating cable 41 is drawn upon, and this causes the, loop portion 106 of said cable to act on the cable sheaves 85 carried by the operating levers 83, causing said levers to swing upwardly and inwardly, which will necessarily, through the connection of said levers with the digging elements, cause said elements to move outwardly and upwardly, pulling into the soil or other material. and lifting a good portion thereof onto said digging elements so that during the movement of the parts from the position shown in Fig. 5 to those shown in ljig. 2, the soil will be forcibly moved outwardly in opposite directions and be lifted by the digging elements until a full load moves into the bucket where it is retained by said digging elements and the sides of the bucket, and duringsuch movement, the wings 70, which serve as movable parts of the sides, assist in preventing considerable of the material being lost over the sides of the digging elements.

By having the operating cable 41 pass around the cable sheaves 85 carried by the operating levers 83, and by reason of said levers swinging on centers a distance from said cable sheaves, and particularly by reason of said operating levers extending outwardly a considerable distance for connection to parts attached to the digging elements, a powerful leverage is provided which will assure the tearing up of concrete floors, hard surfaces, masonry walls, and other well knitted or bonded structures. It is to be noted that in this apparatus the digging elements operate at spaced points, and that the action of said elements during the digging operation is away from each other or outwardly, in contradistinction tothe usual method in which the digging elements move toward each other.

\Vhile I have shown a straight-lined track or guide for the apparatus, furnished by using the supporting cable 22, it will be apparent that the hoisting and lowering cable 40 and the operating cable 41 may be operated through the medium of a power machine having a boom, from which the digging implement may be suspended, raised and lowered, and swung to any desired point, or it may be supported by any other type of power machine.

'lhe lifting and lowering levers 94 are also usable to convert the digging apparatus into a lifting apparatus so as to serve the purpose of a derrick, and when the apparatus is sinused, the retainer hooks 100 are unhooked from said levers and said levers swung downwardly from the position shown in full lines in Fig. 5 to that shown in dotted lines. When so positioictl the levers extend outwardly substantially in a horizontal plane, and for the purpose of utilizing them for lifting purposes, each has a dome 108 secured to its outer end to which one end of a chain 10?) is secured. The e chains me be lowered, as shown in dotted in Fig.

and passed around rai 3H beams, lengths of Water pipe, :q

rang

tiomr t of said i the poi-iii u I figure. ll ne op ,t a ging. the lilting and l ers t tre v.7 cvated and i "nod in po 'iion by the retainer h oks loo. The elm through eyes iii formed of Said levers, the laee clad-1 being provided with hooks hooked into the Jl(! .i: l.- 1M he apparatus niav thereii'ire be red for the purposes of lifting hezi'vv obimzls. urenlil us for the Inn-pos ol digging and lilting and convri'in the material :iuu'.

1n lcu ol' the note may he passed the out-er edges of :aaid chain U which are i me u; of the digging ele ientei which :sr provi" .i with l prongs and which are iYiiIAlUtl for use in di gng hard material or :ubstant an outiir section, such as liUWS) in if i brulnlitul d iherel'or. uml in the outer agecti n i-o upri-e" an ouimirdiytapered plat llii ou er eiloe sharpened, similar to rel, ind is outer sect on :zre nt uded i'or ging sand or other hun s, matci t Vidc at each i-le ul each cut r iron on upstanding wing lit adapted to prevent the material falling over ilu: ,e rdgfF-i ol said section.

When Slllliilillliiizf the outer 'cction, as shown in Fig ii for thrshon'n in l" i Z and i and or iigaie o, the drawn it i mg' iy ne essary to in move the pivot; 3!} mid dra the toothed sections (37 outs: wily. lfirr ehiuh section such is :dmwn Hi l lg. 22', i i-iv he -i:h.- lii:d-- ed and the pivot pin replaced.

in l iis. ill to in, i liri'u; ui'nii an outer section 115 adapted or me as a hay fork, and in these liv'urw-i the uter -L('llUll is made comparulirt iorl, and ha rillll'l) elongated prongs lit; weured therein. 'i'he cleris 97 at each end oi the. impleun-ui is secured to a pin 11? pa -ed through a substantially U- shaped member 115 l'adeucd to the upper side of a cross bar lltl having chains 120 secured to the under side thereof, said chains depending from said cross, bar and being attached to the elongated prongs llG of said outer section 115. A device thus applied to the opposite nds of the implement converts the implement from a digging im plement into a, hay fork or buy lifting ap out r paratus capable of use for lifting loose hay and carrying the same from one place to another, but particularly adapted for use in transferring hay from wagons into any lofts. In order to keep the hay 0n the prongs ill ol the outer section 115, a retaining device is used. This device consists of a swinging frame 121 comprising a bar 1522 having a 'iorkrd inner end 123 positioned an the U-shaped member 118 and having 1 L p vot pin 11? passed therctln'ough. At th nun-2* nd of mid bar 122, a cross bar ill is provided, from which depend retainer prong 112.3 adapted to enter a stack of hay llt'lll on the prongs 11G.

llavingihus described my invention, What I claim ital- 1. suspended digging implement comprising a bucket provided with a bottom having spaced digging elements movable away from each other during digging uperai'ion;combined with means for so moving: said digging elements.

2. A suspended digging implement comprising a bucket provided with a bottom imring a pair of pivotally secured digging elements adapted to he moved into Substantially vertical position preparatory to diggin maid digging elements engaging the mirlli or nmlcrinl to be dug at spaced points, and means for moving said digging elements oulum'dly and upwardly away from each other.

i. in an apparatus of the kind described, a digging element having a bucket provided with Hil -S and two digging elements normall lu'rixianally-disposed and forming the hottom of said bucket, said digging elements being pivoi'ally mounted between said sides and adapted to be swung into vertical )0- sition for digging into the earth or other material, and means for moving said digging elements outwardly away from each other during digging operation.

4, A digging apparatus, comprising a bucket having retainer sides, digging elements normally horizontally disposed between raid sides, each digging element comprising an inner section and an outer seclion and having the inner ends of said inner seilimin in close relation, the outer sections being pivotally secured to said inner sec lion meuns to allow the outer sections to a-1-ume a vertical position and engage the earih at spaced points, and means for swinglug said outer sections outvardly and rip-- \Yardly to dig up the earth.

In an apparatus of the kind described, a digging implement having a bucket provided with spaced digging elements movable from horizontal to vertical position, and rerersely, said digging elements when in verli 'ul position being adapted to engage spaced points of the material to be dug, and means for moving said digging elements outwardly from vertical position to horizontal position during digging operation.

6. In an apparatus of the kind described, a digging implement having a supporting frame, a bucket at the lower end of said frame having retainer sides secured to said frame and digging elements extending outwardly between opposite ends from said retainer sides, and means carried by said supporting frame connected to said digging elements for raising and lowering the same, said digging elements having digging prongs at their outer end and when raised being alined with the bottom of said bucket.

7. In a digging implement, a bucket having a bottom including a pair of horizontallyalisposed separately pivoted digging elements adapted to have at least portions thereof swing into substantially vertical po sition to enter material lo be dug at spaced points, and means for moving said digging elements outwardly away from each other and returning the same to horizontal position.

8. In a digging implement, a pair of digging elements forming the bottom of a bucket and pivotally mounted, each digging element comprising two sections one section of each digging element being pivotally secured at a fixed point and the other being pivotally connected to said first-mentioned section, and means to cause one section of each digging element to swing with the other and to swing through an arc of a circle inde pendent of the other for assuming a digging position, said means serving also to return said sections to normal position during diggmg operation.

9. A digging implement, comprising a bucket having retainer sides and digging elements disposed between said sides andarranged in horizontal position with the inner edges thereof in close relation, each digging element comprising an inner section -ivotally mounted between said sides and receiving support therefrom and an outer section pivotally secured to the outer end of each inner section, and means for swinging said digging elements to cause the same to dig into material at spaced points and to move outwardly and upwardly therefrom so as to return to normal position with a load of matcrlal dug carried thereby.

lo. digging implement, comprising a bucket having sidea and digging elements pivotallv mounted between said sides and receiving support thercl'ron'i, said digging elements being disposed in horizontal position with their inner ends in clo e relation to form the bottom of said bucket, each digging elementcomprising an inner section and replaceable outer sections plvotally connected at their inner ends to theouter ends of said inner sections.

11. A digging implement comprising a bucket having spaced sides and a bottom between said sides formed of horizontally-disposed digging elements pivotally mounted and supported by said sides, said digging elements having their inner ends in close relation and being provided with removable digging prongs at their outer ends.

12. A digging implement having an inverted U-shaped supporting frame, a pair of U-shaped members having their side arms converging upwardly and engaging the lower ends of the depending arms of said im'erted U-shaped frame, a bucket carried by said inverted U-shaped frame and having sides fastened thereto and to said U- shaped members, and a pair of digging elements in horizontal alinemcnt having their inner ends in close relation and receiving support from the cross members of said U- shaped members, said digging elements being pivotally mounted between said sides, and means for actuating said digging elements from an elevated point.

13. In a digging implement, a bucket having sides and a bottom formed by two horizontally-disposed digging elements pivotally mounted between said sides and adapted to swing from horizontal to substantially vertical position, and reversely, said sides comprising two spaced side walls and said digging elements having upstanding wings adapted to enter the spaces between said side walls when said digging elements are in horizontal position.

14. A digging element, comprising an inverted U-shaped frame having concaved portions at its lower terminals, a pair of U shaped men'ibers having their side arms converging upwardly and having the upper ends of said side arms rounded to conform to the concaved portions of said U-shaped frame and fitted thereinto. side walls secured to the inner sides of said inverted U shaped frame and said U-shaped members. side walls secured to the outer sides of said inverted U-shapcd frame and said U-shapcd members. and digging elements pivotally secured to the side arms of the said U- shaped members and positioned between the side walls. applied to the inner sides of said inverted U-shaped frame and U-shaped members, said digging elements having upstanding wings at opposite sides fitting between the side walls at the inner and outer sides of said U-shaped members, and means for actuating said digging elements.

15. A digging implement, comprising a bucket having retainer sides. each formed of two spaced side walls and frame structures interposed between said walls. spacing members between said retainer sides at the top and bottom thereof, tie members tying said sides together in spaced relation, and digging elements interposed between said retainer sides and pivotally supported thereby, each digging element; comprising two seetions, one of which is eapable of slight movement independent of the other, and means for actuating said digging elements.

16. A digging implement r mprising an inverted Us ped frame, a bnrltet at the lower end of said frame ineluding digging elements. operating tevers earried by v aid f'ame, operative eonneetion briween said operating lin rs and said digging elements, a series of cable sheiues carri d in part by said operating levers and in part by said frame, and a cable in eontaet with said cable sheaves and acting to move said operating levers in one direction under power and to allow said levers to move in another direetion upon releasing said eable.

17. A digging implement, eoinpriaing a frame, a bueket at the lower end of said frame including movable digging elements. supporting plates carried by oppo ite sides of said frame and extending in opposite direetions therefrom, eaeh supporting plate having a segmental slot. a pin pa sing through alined slots in the Plitfts at oppoto sides of said frame. opt-rating lever. imunted on said pins, ("able sheaves earried ht said operating levers and said frame. p- 2 dive eonneetion between said operating leand said digging elements. and a eahle i o 'it' rating with said sheaves and when op ted in one direction serving to draw said ep riiti'ng l vers inwardly and upwardly to maintain said digging elements in normal Hw'tion, said operating levers swinging nwardl to move said digging elements digging position when said ('ttlllt is re A digging implement. eompriwing an tted U--haped frame. a sup orting plate nre 'l to -t"ttfl of the depending arm of til frame. a b i lt'et at the lower end of aid rinting arms including digging elements vi r\ ing as a hottom for said burltet and be mg movably arranged between the sides of said bucket, a pulley housing swiveled to the upper end of said frame and having spaced pulleys therein, two (:llJlt sheaves in vertical alinement between the depending arms of said frame, operating levers pivotally -neeted between said supporting plates and having eable ;--heaveseo-axial with their centers, other cable sheaves earried by mttitl operating levers, a ealde adapted for movement in eontaet with said pnlle and sheaves. carriers pivotally mounted near the outer ends of said operating levers and having rollers rotatably mounted at, their lower ends adapted for engagement with said operating levers, lifting and lowering levers pivotally eonneeted to said rarriers and hav ing their axes eoineident with said rollers, and flexible eonneetion between said lifting and lowering levers and said digging ele ments.

it). A digging implement. eomprisiug a frame, a bueket at the lower end of said frame having a bottom formed of two pivoted digging elements normally horizontal l v-retained in alinement. said digging elements being arranged at opposite sid s of a plane pa sing fl'tlll\\'tl (l through 'Htll(l digging implement. operating meehanism at. earh ide f said plane eonneeted with a digging element at the same side thereof. and a single operating table aetuating said operating meehanism.

it). A digging implement having pivoted digging elements. and meelianism for op erating said elements. in luding lifting and lowering levers pivotallv mounted and adapted to be swung outwardly. ehains applied to the outer ends of said lifting and lowering levers and adapted to be fastened to heav objeets to be lifted. and means for sHFpending said digging implement from an elevated point.

In testimony whereof I atiix my signature.

.lOlL ZlCA. 

